What Are Scientists?Scientists are people study things and try to figure out patterns or rules to explain how they work. Scientists might study things like the ocean and its creatures, volcanoes, or machines. They try to identify scientific laws or processes that can be observed over and over and then explain why the process or law happens. Scientists use these laws to make predictions as what will happen. One example of this is the law of gravity. This law explains how people and things stay on the surface of earth instead of floating away into outer space.

What Do Scientists Do?Scientists need to keep the observations and research they do organized. The method they use to do this is called the scientific method. The scientific method is a process of steps that helps scientists find answers to problems or questions. The first step in the scientific method is called the hypotheses. The hypotheses is the scientists best guess at what will occur or happen in the experiment or thing being observed. In order to test the hypotheses a scientist will repeat the experiment several times to see if the results are the same or different. If the experiment is successful the hypotheses will be predictable and repeat over and over. The scientist will attempt to explain why this happens by gathering data, observing, and looking for evidence to support the hypotheses. If they find evidence to support the hypotheses, it may lead to the discovery of a new theory or law of science.

Scientists use the following methods to help research and test hypotheses using the scientific method. 1) Observing the event or thing. Scientists use special tools to help them look closely at things. In addition to their own eyes, nose, and ears, scientists might use microscopes, telescopes, machines, or other tools to help them observe things. 2) Scientists need to classifythe things they observe. They classify them in groups of things that are alike or different. 3) Scientists measure things to help with classifying. You can put your hand above boiling water and feel the hot steam. However, to find out what temperature water boils at you will need a thermometer measure the heat level. Scientists have special tools to measure heat, mass, distance, time, and volume. 4) Scientists infer and predict things based on their observations. Here is an example of inference. Say you were observing an octopus in the ocean. And every time a large shark came near, the Octopus shot a large cloud of jet black ink out and the shark swam away. You might infer the octopus releases ink as a defense when it feel threatened. If you observed this happening over and over you may be able to make a prediction as to what will happen if another shark approaches the octopus. 5) Scientists need to communicate their findings and observations and share their discoveries. In order to do this they may chart data, draw pictures, use video recorders or cameras, make graphs, maps, use computers or publish books and articles. They want to clearly document what’s happening and share it with others.

What Are The Different Branches of Science?

Earth and Space Sciences (also known as geoscience - is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth)AstronomyAstrophysicsGeographyGeologyGeophysicsMineralogyOceanographyPaleontologySeismology

Chemistry (the study of matter and energy and the interactions between them. Get facts for the elements in the periodic table)FuelsInorganic ChemistryMaterialsMetallurgyOrganic ChemistryPhysical Chemistry

Biochemistry (is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules.)EndocrinologyCytologyGeneticsHematologyMolecular BiologyNutritionPhotosynthesis

Physics (is a natural science; it is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the world and universe behave.)AcousticsAtomic PhysicsDynamicsElectricity and MagnetismLightMechanicsNuclear PhysicsParticle PhysicsPlasma PhysicsStaticsThermodynamics

Behavioral and Social Sciences (study of systematic processes of behavior)Animal BehaviorAnthropologyArcheologyEconomics EducationEthnologyLinguisticsPsychologySociology

Botany (plant science, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of biology and is the scientific study of plant life and development.)AgricultureAgronomyAlgologyAnatomyHorticultureForestryMycologyPathologyPhysiologyTaxonomy

Computer Science (is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems)Computer ComputationsComputer Data BasesComputer GraphicsComputer HardwareSimulationsSystems AnalysisSoftware DevelopmentNetworking

Engineering (is the discipline, art and profession of acquiring and applying technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or inventions.)AeronauticalBioengineeringChemicalCivilElectricalElectronicMechanicalPetroleum

Environmental Sciences (is an interdisciplinary field that involves both the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, resource technology and engineering) and the social sciences (resource management and conservation, demography, economics, politics and ethics). It encompasses the surrounding conditions that affect man and other organisms. Natural and human resources are interdependent and the use or misuse of one affects the other.)BiodiversityEndangered SpeciesGlobal WarmingImpact StudiesMathematical ModelingPollutionSoil ContaminationWaste Disposal

Gerontology (is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that studies the disease of the elderly.)Aging StudiesDiseases Related to Aging

MathematicsThe study of the measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are branches of mathematics.AlgebraApplied MathematicsCalculusComplex VariablesGame TheoryGeometryNon-Euclidean GeometryOperations ResearchProbabilityPure MathematicsStatistics

Microbiology (is the study of microorganisms, which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms. This includes eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied. In short; microbiology refers to the study of life and organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.)BacteriologyProtozoologyVirology

Zoology (occasionally also spelled zoölogy, is the branch of biology that focuses on the structure, function, behavior, and evolution of animals.)AnatomyCytologyEntomologyHistologyInvertebrate ZoologyOrnithologyIchthyologyHerpetologyVertebrate Zoology

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